Google, please map my bike route!

SIGN THIS PETITION if you, too, want Google Maps to add a “Bike There” option to their maps. 47,000 people already have. I wonder how may they need to be convinced? Or maybe they’re already working on it…?  I’m excited about the possibility of bikeable Google Maps, since I’m committed to riding my bike as [...]

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are you biking (or walking) to work on Thursday?

Maybe you already ride your bike to work. If you do, you are a member of an elite group: 0.4% of commuters nationwide. If you live in Portland, Oregon, you’re part of a larger crowd–3.5%–, but you already know this. (Source: US Census 2005)
The rest of us (87.7%) drive to work. Most (77%) drive alone.
If [...]

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earth day: pick your battles

Today is Earth Day, so lots of attention is being paid to earth-friendly efforts. Fortunately, the interest in energy-saving and CO2-reducing efforts is increasing every day.
But really, isn’t it Earth Day every day?
Since the topic of this blog is “Everyday Sustainable”, I want to reflect on what is truly sustainable, everyday. It’s true that until [...]

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did you know you can pump up car tires with a bike pump?

I didn’t! I was shocked to learn this during my recent Green@Home training. As one of the energy-saving measures we practiced, we checked the tire pressure on a tire. It decreased from 29 psi to almost 25 psi as people checked the pressure. Then four people took turns and pumped the tire back up to [...]

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bike racks

I’ve just got back in the (bike) saddle. I no longer live at the top of one of the steeper streets in San Francisco, I got a used hybrid bike for doing errands, and I’m not as much of a scaredy-cat about riding in flatland suburbia versus hilly SF. Also, I’ve lived in this area [...]

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Everyday Sustainable in India

I’ve just returned from a 3-week visit to India, where I kept my eyes/ears/nose open to the Everyday Sustainable there. This was a personal visit, which included travel in the North on the tourist-triangle of Delhi-Jaipur-Agra, and tourism with family/friends visit in the South–mostly Kerala and a few days in Bangalore.
In posts to come, I’ll [...]

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Vote! and carpool if you can

My polling place is a block away so I can walk, but many Americans have to drive to their polling place.
So why not carpool? Chances are, you’ll have to wait in a line a bit, so hang out and visit with your friend or neighbor or mom. Bring some coffee or tea and some snacks [...]

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local food: Green Oaks Creek Farm

Lucky kids. Yesterday I got a note from a fellow San Franciscan describing the joys of old-fashioned farming of his 3000 sq ft veggie garden and 80-tree orchard up north, and how his “son’s eyes roll back in his head when he eats a peach, or [the] kids turn they’re noses up at store bought strawberries.” I want to taste one of [...]

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why does online shopping = wasteful packaging?

I am an all-around shopping minimalist, but I live with a prolific online shopper who asserts that it’s better than driving to the store.  This is debatable, especially since we live within walking distance of some of the discount stores he frequents online.
But shopping online is not my beef, since I know it can be useful, and [...]

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carpool by Twitter coming soon?

Using Tweet to facilitate carpooling would be VERY cool.
I read about this soon-to-arrive Twitter application: TweetMyRide
TweetMyRide is a site that helps Twitter users link up to carpool if there are going to the same place. Save some gas. Use TweetMyRide.
They haven’t Tweeted about it for 2.5 months…doesn’t sound too promising.  But keeping my fingers crossed.  [...]

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